Shelf Registration

Shelf registration is a procedure, included in the regulation that a corporation can evoke to comply with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration requirements for a new stock offering up to two years before doing the actual public offering. Shelf registration is a method for publicly traded companies to register new stock offerings without having to issue them immediately. Instead, the securities can be issued at any time within a two-year period, allowing a company to adjust the timing of the sales to take advantage of more favorable market conditions should they arise. (Source: Investopedia)